Grenada, Economy and Government

Agriculture is the foundation of the economy, and landholdings are generally small. Grenada's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2000 was $410.4 million. The principal export crops are citrus fruits, cacao, nutmeg, bananas, and mace. Other crops include coconuts, cotton, cloves, and cinnamon. Tourism is also important to the economy. Grenada uses the East Caribbean dollar of 100 cents (2.70 East Caribbean dollars equal U.S. $1; fixed rate since 1976).

Grenada is an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations. The British monarch is head of state and is represented by a governor-general. The 1967 constitution was suspended and the parliament dissolved after a coup d'etat in 1979. Following a second coup and the United States-led military intervention in 1983, an Interim Advisory Council ruled Grenada until parliamentary government was restored in December 1984. Grenada's parliament consists of an elected 15-member House of Representatives and a 13-member Senate appointed by the Governor General.